Safaris > Parks and Attractions > Historical Sites
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Historical Site:
1. Bagamoyo Historical Town
2. Mafia Island
3. Kilwa
4. Pemba Island
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Bagamoyo Historical Town:
A small town but rich in culture and history, Bagamoyo is located 75 kilometers north of Dar es salaam . The town was born out of Kaole town. It was one of the most important trading centers on the East Africa coast during the 18 th and 19 th centuries. The town boasts of the beginnings of the Catholic Church East Africa and beautifully unspoiled beaches. Visitors enjoy a combination of cultural, historical and natural attractions.
Bagamoyo was recently designated as Tanzania 's seventh world heritage site and is the oldest town in Tanzania . Bagamoyo's history has been influenced by Arab and Indian traders, the German colonial government and Christian missionaries. Although Bagamoyo is no longer the busy port city that it once was, Tanzania 's Department of Antiquities is working to revitalize the town and maintain the dozens of ruins in and around Bagamoyo.
Bagamoyo was the major slave trading post in East Africa . Bagamoyo, which means ‘lay down your heart' in Swahili, was probably given this name because Bagamoyo was the last place the slaves would stay in Tanzania before being shipped off to foreign lands. Although the slave trade officially ended in 1873, slaves continued to be sold and traded in Bagamoyo through the end of the nineteenth century. During the slave trade, it was not uncommon to see hundreds of slaves walking through the streets of Bagamoyo chained together by the neck. Slaves were collected from the interior by capture, purchase or trade and then shipped to Zanzibar or Arab countries.
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Mafia Island
Mafia Island is located of the Rufiji River delta, at about 120km south of Dar es Salaam . During the 11th to 13th centuries in the days when the Shirazia ruled most of the East African coastal area, the area was recognized as an important trading post with its own central position. During the 16th century, Mafia Island began to loose much of their importance as the Portuguese had arrived and the area became part of the territory that was ruled by the Sultan at the time, who was Sultan of Kilwa. The main settlement of Mafia Island began to migrate to Chloe Island in the early 18th century, which resulted in Mafia Island flourishing as a trade centre again, which alternatively linked Kilwa to the south with Unguja to the north. However, Mafia Island is known today as beautiful tropical Island resort that is famous for its deep-sea fishing and scuba diving. There is an abundance of aquatic species lined along the sea bed that it located about 1km off the western shoreline of the island, and about 200m deep. There are a variety of reefs that surround Mafia Island , all of which are made up of vibrant, coral formations. These reefs include Kitutia, Juani and Jibondo Islands which are close to that of Chloe Bay . The Island itself is a picturesque vision of beautiful coral white sands; it is a notable breeding ground for giant turtles as they lay their eggs amongst the textures of the sand. They do this principally on the uninhabited islands of Shungumbili, Barakuni and Nyororo. The Island is recorded at having a population of about 40, 000 residents of which most are either smallholder farms that grow cassava, rice, pawpaw and coconut.
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Kilwa
There are actually three Kilwas - the oldest, Kilwa Kisiwani (Kilwa on the island), lies on a small island two kilometers offshore. Here are the ruins of the medieval city of Kilwa , once thought to be the site of King Solomon's mines. Kilwa Kivinje (Kilwa of the Censuarina Trees) was a major 19th century slave trading centre, while Kilwa Masoko (Kilwa of the market) is a regional headquarters.
The Kilwa area is of great historical interests and great scenic beauty.
The Kilwas were at their height during the 12th century and continued until the 1800s, ending with the abolition of the slave trade. Power shifted and soon all that remained of the Kilwa's former glory were the fabulous ruins along the coastline.
The coastline town of Kilwa is still beautiful. Kilwa Kivinje was the terminus of the southern caravan route from Lake Nyasa . Over 20,000 slaves were exported from here annually during the 1860s. It was also the site of the Germans' southern administrative headquarters.
A colorful market is held daily on the square at Kilwa Masoko. Men in white robes and women in black buibuis gather under the mango trees to barter fresh produce and a variety of goods.
Kilwa Kisiwani is famous for spectacular ruins, the finest and most intact collection of Islamic architecture south of the Sahara . These ruins, together with the stone town ruins on Songa Mnara Island , a few kilometers to the south as well as the ancient oblong houses of uninhabited Sanje ya Kati , make this area the historical nucleus of the south. Time bars visitors from venturing south of the Kilwas. Small fishing villages are scattered along the coast, unchanged by the progress of the rest of the country.
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Pemba Island:
Pemba main attractions are the surrounding coral reefs; the islands are surrounded by unspoiled coral reefs, and are becoming famous for the spectacular sun and sea adventure scuba diving and snorkeling. For much of its history, Pemba has been overshadowed by Zanzibar Island , its larger and more politically powerful neighbour to the south. Although the two islands are only separated by about 50km of water, relatively few tourists make their way across the channel to Pemba , but those who do are seldom disappointed. However as the island is so remote it is important to realise that facilities (hotels, roads, transport etc) on Pemba are not as developed as they are in Zanzibar . It's not that there are no historic sites to visit, or a lack of good beaches, because there are plenty of these and the island.
While most travellers do Zanzibar , very few make the journey a little further on to the laid-back island of Pemba . No, the island is just a bit tricky because there's little public transport off the islands' main road. Jeepneys (jitney bus converted into a jeep) are on the increase however.
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